PINOYS HEAT UP PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ 4 UNDERCARD
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 07 Dec 2012
LAS VEGAS (PNA via PCSO) ? Four Filipino fighters will be fighting in the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez quadrilogy in what could put the Philippines on top of the boxing world anew.
Two of them ? super-featherweight Michael Farenas and lightweight Mercito Gesta ? will be eyeing world titles in their respective divisions and join the growing list of reigning Filipino world title belt-owners that includes super bantamweight Nonito Donaire Jr. and flyweight Brian Viloria.
Gesta, the undefeated Cebuano will be trading punches with defending International Boxing Federation lightweight titlist Miguel Angel Vazquez of Mexico for 12 rounds, while Bicolano Farenas, tangles with dangerous Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa, former featherweight champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist, also for 12 rounds.
Gesta, who boasts of 26 straight victory with 14 KOs, touted as heir-apparent to Pacquiao has not gone the distance in all his fights in over a year having won all his 2012 outings via knockouts. The San Diego-based fighter is rated no. 5 and is believed to have what it takes to snatch the 135-pound division crown of Vazquez.
Farenas of Gubat, Sorsogon, who now resides in Paranaque City and managed by former two-divisison champion Gerry Penalosa, is ranked no. 5 and, likewise, is expected to give the talented Gamboa a lot of headache in his effort to keep his featherweight plum what with his amazing one loss in his last 29 fights.
The Farenas-Gamboa and the Gesta-Vazquez settos are promoted by rapper Curtis "50" Cent' Jackson, who is in his promotional debut in the sweet science. Two more promising ?Brown Dolls? ? Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr. and Ernie Sanchez will be featured in eight rounds curtain raisers in the hope of barging into the big money fights in the future.
Penalosa, son of another ex-two-division champ, polio-victim Dodie Boy Sr., Gerry?s older brother, battle Jesus Lule Raya of Florida in a featherweight scrap, while Sanchez, Pacquiao?s townmate in General Santos City, takes on Coy Evans of Philadelphia in a super-featherweight rumble.
The young Penalosa, 21 and a former amateur standout but failed in his bid to wear the country?s colors despite his impressive 29-0 slate as a non-pro, has so far hacked out nine consecutive wins in the play-for-pay game, all of them via stoppage.
Top photo ? Gesta and Farenas (right) below, Gesta, Farenas and Gesta?s father Anecito (extreme right)
*Photos taken by WENDELL RUPERT ALINEA via PCSO
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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